The 2017 AltCar Expo Will Point Toward an International Vision of Sustainable Practices
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The tide appears to be turning for alternative fueled vehicles. On July 26, 2017, the United Kingdom announced it was to ban the sale of all diesel and gas-fueled cars and vans by 2040 to combat rising levels of nitrogen oxide pollution. The decision follows the lead of other countries like France, which issued the promise on July 6. The automaker Volvo announced it would end manufacture of gas-only cars by 2019, and customers are buying Tesla vehicles not for environmental purposes, but for their "wow" factor.
The world is moving toward vehicles that tread a lighter carbon footprint, and the fleet profession is taking notice. NAFA Fleet Management Association has pioneered sustainable fleet practices for decades and cemented its commitment with the formation of the Sustainable Fleet Accreditation Program in 2014 and the launch of Sustainable Fleet Series in 2016.
The Sustainable Fleet Series is a brand new seminar that has been developed through a partnership between NAFA Fleet Management Association, CALSTART, and NC State University. It consists of six one-hour presentations designed to educate fleet professionals on how to create a sustainable fleet program.
On September 15, NAFA will be presenting the introductory session to the Sustainable Fleet Series "Building the Foundation for a Sustainable Fleet," live at the 2017 AltCar Expo and Conference, September 15-16 in Santa Monica, Calif. Facilitated by NAFA Accreditation Development Committee Chair Gary Lentsch, CAFM®, will help to set the stage for this program and define what sustainability means in the context of the Fleet industry. Attendees will learn how to write a Sustainable Fleet Plan, how to develop policies and procedures, and will be given examples of sustainable fleet initiatives.
This inclusion of NAFA education makes an already strong event into a "can't miss" powerhouse. Rick Sikes, Chief Operating Officer for pro-alt-fuel organization CarbonBLU and a liaison of the 2017 AltCar Expo and Conference has been a part of the event since its inception in 2005. He sees alternative fuel vehicles reaching its moment of no turning back.
"The reason that AltCar was started was to show people that there are alternatives (to fossil fuels) out there. You can imagine that, back then, the pickings were slim. The idea for AltCar was to educate people on options for reducing their transportation carbon footprint, and to bring those products together in one place so that people could touch, feel, and test drive those vehicles and, ultimately, buy them."
Spread over two days, the AltCar Expo concentrates the majority of its fleet and industry sessions on the first day, September 15. The focus shifts to the public on September 16. The Expo floor and an alt fuel ride and drive occur on both days of the conference.
"On the fleet side, it's a convenient place to have all the different products. We usually have every fully-electric vehicle, every natural gas vehicle that has California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification, et cetera. It's a good selection with everything in one place where individuals can actually test drive the vehicles, and take the next step to buy them."
Sikes said, among the many choices of vehicles ready to drive at the conference, the new Honda Clarity fuel cell and electric model will be available to experience during the ride and drive.
Companies and organizations continue to take great strides toward sustainable practices, even as the federal government indicates a desire to move in the opposite direction.
"In California, there is a renewed commitment," Sikes said, noting Governor Jerry Brown's legislation to extend the Carbon Market funding mechanism into 2030. "Fleets, especially government fleets, aren't changing their sustainability paths. In fact, California is mandating that in the next fiscal year, state fleet vehicles and government agency vehicles will be zero-emission vehicles if they are available. They're tightening up those rules to that they won't have an option (to avoid the change). Nationwide, some government fleets have already moved toward electrification and natural gas, and are on a path and committed to these changes.
"You have some other fleets that have not taken the step yet. Those are the ones that AltCar are most interested in bringing in; to show them that other people have done it successfully, connect them with fleet managers and sustainability experts who can answer their questions concerning facilitation. Then they can follow the examples in implementing alt-fuel cars in their own fleets with greater accuracy and fewer issues."
For the public consumer, Sikes said that alt-fuel cars, and particularly electric vehicles, are taking on a "cool" factor that is superseding concerns with miles-per-gallon. Even in an era of cheaper gas, EVs are making advances in the public consciousness not as an option that's good for you, but as one that truly appeals to consumers.
Sikes said, however, that on the federal level, the wind has shifted in the opposite direction. "But the good news is that a lot of these action plans have already been put into motion. Even if there is resistance from the federal side, in terms of funding and support, believers in these technologies are doubling-down their support. Instead of being pushed by government mandate toward sustainable paths, fleets are carrying the ball themselves."
For more information, and to register to attend, visit www.altcarexposocal.com
The world is moving toward vehicles that tread a lighter carbon footprint, and the fleet profession is taking notice. NAFA Fleet Management Association has pioneered sustainable fleet practices for decades and cemented its commitment with the formation of the Sustainable Fleet Accreditation Program in 2014 and the launch of Sustainable Fleet Series in 2016.
The Sustainable Fleet Series is a brand new seminar that has been developed through a partnership between NAFA Fleet Management Association, CALSTART, and NC State University. It consists of six one-hour presentations designed to educate fleet professionals on how to create a sustainable fleet program.
On September 15, NAFA will be presenting the introductory session to the Sustainable Fleet Series "Building the Foundation for a Sustainable Fleet," live at the 2017 AltCar Expo and Conference, September 15-16 in Santa Monica, Calif. Facilitated by NAFA Accreditation Development Committee Chair Gary Lentsch, CAFM®, will help to set the stage for this program and define what sustainability means in the context of the Fleet industry. Attendees will learn how to write a Sustainable Fleet Plan, how to develop policies and procedures, and will be given examples of sustainable fleet initiatives.
This inclusion of NAFA education makes an already strong event into a "can't miss" powerhouse. Rick Sikes, Chief Operating Officer for pro-alt-fuel organization CarbonBLU and a liaison of the 2017 AltCar Expo and Conference has been a part of the event since its inception in 2005. He sees alternative fuel vehicles reaching its moment of no turning back.
"The reason that AltCar was started was to show people that there are alternatives (to fossil fuels) out there. You can imagine that, back then, the pickings were slim. The idea for AltCar was to educate people on options for reducing their transportation carbon footprint, and to bring those products together in one place so that people could touch, feel, and test drive those vehicles and, ultimately, buy them."
Spread over two days, the AltCar Expo concentrates the majority of its fleet and industry sessions on the first day, September 15. The focus shifts to the public on September 16. The Expo floor and an alt fuel ride and drive occur on both days of the conference.
"On the fleet side, it's a convenient place to have all the different products. We usually have every fully-electric vehicle, every natural gas vehicle that has California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification, et cetera. It's a good selection with everything in one place where individuals can actually test drive the vehicles, and take the next step to buy them."
Sikes said, among the many choices of vehicles ready to drive at the conference, the new Honda Clarity fuel cell and electric model will be available to experience during the ride and drive.
Companies and organizations continue to take great strides toward sustainable practices, even as the federal government indicates a desire to move in the opposite direction.
"In California, there is a renewed commitment," Sikes said, noting Governor Jerry Brown's legislation to extend the Carbon Market funding mechanism into 2030. "Fleets, especially government fleets, aren't changing their sustainability paths. In fact, California is mandating that in the next fiscal year, state fleet vehicles and government agency vehicles will be zero-emission vehicles if they are available. They're tightening up those rules to that they won't have an option (to avoid the change). Nationwide, some government fleets have already moved toward electrification and natural gas, and are on a path and committed to these changes.
"You have some other fleets that have not taken the step yet. Those are the ones that AltCar are most interested in bringing in; to show them that other people have done it successfully, connect them with fleet managers and sustainability experts who can answer their questions concerning facilitation. Then they can follow the examples in implementing alt-fuel cars in their own fleets with greater accuracy and fewer issues."
For the public consumer, Sikes said that alt-fuel cars, and particularly electric vehicles, are taking on a "cool" factor that is superseding concerns with miles-per-gallon. Even in an era of cheaper gas, EVs are making advances in the public consciousness not as an option that's good for you, but as one that truly appeals to consumers.
Sikes said, however, that on the federal level, the wind has shifted in the opposite direction. "But the good news is that a lot of these action plans have already been put into motion. Even if there is resistance from the federal side, in terms of funding and support, believers in these technologies are doubling-down their support. Instead of being pushed by government mandate toward sustainable paths, fleets are carrying the ball themselves."
For more information, and to register to attend, visit www.altcarexposocal.com
